You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall. As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him (Psalm 18:28-30).

You are the One, O Lord, who gives purpose to our lives. You are the One who gives light at the end of life’s tunnels. Thank you for walking intimately with us along life’s journey. Knowing we are loved by You enables us to scale walls that otherwise would never have been tried.

Thank you Lord that Lisa, Amanda, and Melissa are able to come to the retreat. If they have experienced the darkness of depression that settles over them like a mantle, if they are having thoughts descend in varying shades of gray, covering the essence of who they are, we ask for You, the true Light, to shine on their value, worth, failures, lack and breathe into them Life-giving Spirit. Create in them the breath of life, a reason for being. May they feel deeply and fully, not reflecting their emptiness. Lord, return to them the strength to color their world removing the shades of gray. Our desire is that their time at the retreat be one of light and encouragement, lifting their spirits. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

About the author

Debbie Suits grew up in Naples, Italy, and fell in love with the city and its people. She came close to returning to Italy, but ended up in Madrid, Spain, where she and her husband worked for 16 years. They returned to the States due to the special needs of one of their children. She now lives in Denver, CO, with her husband and three kids (ages 24, 22 and 18). Debbie is a bi-lingual nanny, companion to the elderly, and Color Consultant. She is the author of the 30 Days of Prayer and is a representative of Get Hope Global (micro-enterprise loans). Debbie has been a part of Thrive retreats for many years as a Color Consultant and shares a kindred spirit with fellow women who work abroad.